People born north of Brisbane River should live longer on average: Report

Babies in Brisbane's north are expected to live longer than those in the capital city's south, according to an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report.

The report found Queenslanders born from 2013-2015 north of the Brisbane River up to Kingaham and out to Kilcoy were expected to live, on average, to 83.1 years.

Those south of the river, extending down to the New South Wales border and out to Mount Barney, born in the same time period, were likely to live to 82.9, up from the national average of 82.4 years.

Western Queensland had the lowest life expectancy age at 78.7 years, behind the lowest national life expectancy in the Northern Territory, where newborns from 2013 were expected to live, on average, to 77 years.

Northern Sydney topped the list for life expectancy at 85.5 years, while Brisbane north and south rounded out the bottom 10, behind western Sydney and north west Melbourne, both at 83.2 years.

Western Queensland was one of four Queensland Primary Health Network areas to have the greatest improvement nationally, with life expectancy rising by 0.6 years from 2011-2013, alongside Brisbane north and south, and the Darling Downs and West Moreton region.

The rate of potentially avoidable deaths declined in most areas, with the most notable improvement in western Queensland, falling from 213 to 194 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the report.

Potentially avoidable deaths are considered below the age of 75 from conditions that could be prevented through primary or hospital care, according to AIHW.

The data was prepared according to the National Health Agreement indicator and based on data from the Registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages, the National Coronial Information System and compiled and coded by the ABS.